Pubdate: Mon, 03 Oct 2005
Source: Oshkosh Northwestern (WI)
Copyright: 2005 Gannett Co., Inc.
Contact: http://www.wisinfo.com/northwestern/index.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2640
Author: Gary Storck
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1544/a11.html
POLITICIANS SHOULD LISTEN TO PUBLIC ON MEDICAL POT
Thanks for your article about the new poll on support for medical
marijuana in Wisconsin, "State ready for medicinal marijuana" (Sept.
28). These results echo the findings of a poll IMMLY commissioned in
2002, which found even higher support using different wording.
According to the results of that sampling, from February 2002, support
stands at more than 80 percent (www.immly.org/poll.htm).
It is pertinent that state Rep. Gregg Underheim, R-Oshkosh, pointed
out scientific evidence showing that marijuana "enhances the
productivity of legally prescribed pain medications, which allows the
patient to be less dependent on pain-killers."
Unfortunately, with medical marijuana's current illegal status under
state law, many state HMOs will not provide these kinds of painkillers
to patients who acknowledge using marijuana medicinally. Patients are
even being subjected to urine tests, and if they test positive for
cannabis, are being cut off from existing prescriptions, sometimes
even being forced to quit "cold turkey."
There are many patients statewide wracked with pain who are facing
this cruel treatment. The Legislature has had medical marijuana bills
before it for a decade now. This is not a new issue, and further delay
only hurts our most vulnerable citizens. The legislature has shown it
can move quickly. Underheim is correct that citizens need to make
their overwhelming support known so this issue can be settled this
session.
Gary Storck
Is My Medicine Legal Yet?
Madison
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake